2 Key Types of Asthma

Types of Asthma

Asthma is a serious respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways. The muscles around the airways tighten, which makes it harder to breathe. Asthma is the result of swelling inside the airways. What leads to this swell is not entirely clear, but it may be due to a combination of things. Asthma is more common in boys than girls before puberty; after puberty, it becomes equally prevalent. Asthma is a very common condition. In fact, around one in every 10 adults and one in every five children have it. It's often a long-term condition that comes and goes over time.

What Causes Asthma?

What causes asthma exactly is unclear although there are several factors that can make some people more likely to develop it. These include:

• Family history if one or both parents have asthma
• Being exposed to cigarette smoke in the womb
• Living with a family member who has asthma
• Wheezing in early childhood
• Allergies such as hay fever or pollen

Asthma Symptoms and Treatment

People who have asthma often experience it in the same way. Some common asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing which often occurs at night or early morning
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• A tight feeling in the chest
• Rapid breathing

Asthma attacks can be very serious, and in some cases fatal. What triggers an asthma attack varies from person to person, but there are a number of possible triggers including:

• Cold air
• Pollen
• Exercise or exertion
• Respiratory infections like the flu or common cold
• Stress
• Tobacco smoke

Asthma usually responds very well to appropriate treatment. The goal of asthma treatment is to prevent asthma symptoms from occurring. However, asthma treatments won't reverse any asthma-related damage that has already occurred. Treating asthma also means understanding asthma triggers and reducing exposure to those triggers as much as possible. Asthma treatment is often a long-term process. In some cases, asthma treatment may be life-long. While asthma can't usually be cured, asthma treatment controls symptoms and asthma attacks to the point that they no longer interfere with daily life. Asthma treatment options are widely available. Which one is right for the patient depends on a number of things including:

• Age
• Length and severity of asthma symptoms
• General health and medical history
• The desired outcome from asthma treatment

Treatment for asthma may include the following:

• Monitoring asthma with symptom tracking and lung function testing
• Avoiding asthma triggers
• Taking asthma medications that open up airways, help control inflammation, or both
• Talking with a doctor who specializes in asthma about asthma management plans including medicines, asthma action plans, and asthma care plans

In many cases, asthma treatment includes asthma medications to help control asthma symptoms. There are a number of asthma medications available. They fall into two broad categories:

• Relievers relieve asthma symptoms as they occur. Relievers can be taken as needed or as a regular asthma treatment plan via inhalers, nebulizers, or pill form.
• Preventers help prevent asthma attacks from occurring by keeping asthma inflammation in check. They can be taken daily or on an as-needed basis via inhalers, nebulizers, or pill form.

Home Remedies for Asthma: Home Remedies for asthma include acupuncture, herbs, natural dietary supplements, plant-based diets, yoga, amongst others.

Types of Asthma

Types of asthma are usually broken down into two: Allergic Asthma and Non-Allergic Asthma.

Allergic types of asthma are a form of asthma that has a genetic basis. In allergic types of asthma, the immune system abnormally reacts to substances called allergens. These include things like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and certain types of mold. When an allergen is inhaled by someone with allergic asthma it triggers a release of histamines in the lungs. This leads to inflammation in the airways, producing the symptoms associated with asthma. This type of asthma can't be cured but treatment is available that can control the symptoms associated with it.

Non-Allergic types of asthma are types of asthma that have no genetic basis. Non-allergic types of asthma are often referred to as non-atopic types of asthma because they don't involve an abnormal reaction to allergens.

There are several types of non-allergic types of asthma, including:

• Bronchial Asthma
• Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
• Occupational Asthma
• Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA)
• Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS)
• Childhood Asthma